Hello from Bristol

[Archeress]

Hello everyone,

I'm a woman living in Bristol, aged 40... I have always enjoyed riding road bikes, and currently have 2 bikes, one a road bike and the other a full sus mountain bike. I have in the past commuted by bike, and ridden pleasure rides on and off road.

My main reason for joining is to ask the following question if I may...

My road bike is quite old but still doing well. It was bought shortly after graduation, in 1995 I think. It is a Raleigh Scorpio, 12 speed. It has a steel frame and I have probably cycled about 5000 miles on this bike. Last summer I spent about £30 replacing the rear mech (which although still functioning was a little past it's best) and all the cabling on the bike. I am now in the position to begin commuting to work again which is about a 3 mile journey each way. My question is should I look at replacing my road bike? I am still very fond of this aged Raleigh having spent so much time with her.

I cannot see anything really wrong with the frame apart from a dulled paint work and some chips in the paintwork which although deep have not hit metal.

I hope later in the summer to do some pleasure rides with my partner.

Hugs
Archeress

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Hi Archeress and to CycleChat.

If you like your current bike and there are no faults I'd suggest keeping it and upgrading bits as they wear out.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Archeress!
Like Phil said, keep your much loved bike.
Have a read in the vintage bikes section for tips.

 

[Spartak]

Hi from another Bristolian :-)

 

[coffeejo]

Hi and

If you've got somewhere secure/safe to lock the bike up, then keep it on the road, otherwise I'd be tempted to get a hack for the commute and keep the Raleigh for the fun rides.

 

[Archeress]

Thank you everyone for your kind comments.

Hugs
Archeress

 

[Hitchington]

Hello Archeress. My little sis lives in Bristol, lovely city!

 

[Peteaud]

and another for keeping the bike

 

[Ern1e]

Hi you could always keep the raleigh and buy a bright shiny new machine for those nice sunny summer days out (if they ever happen lol)

 

[Archeress]

As I have a little more time now, I can tell you I did do the commute today. It turned out to be 3.0 miles which I completed in about 16 minutes which I was happy with. During a normal week when there is more traffic on the road, It would take me abut 20-25 minutes to drive (a slightly different route as I cannot take the more direct one with all the cycle paths lol). Once at work I was okay to start, the job is physically demanding. However I was buzzing a little due to the exercise.

Hugs
Archeress

 

[Kiwiavenger]

Welcome to the site. Ex-Bristolian here

what route do you commute in on?

i found from Kingswood to the Centre it was just as quick to use the cycle track as it was to dice with death on church road! even if it was 3 miles extra!!!

keep the raleigh and possibly look and see if your work do a cycle to work scheme?

 

[Archeress]

I work in Cribbs Causeway, so I use Highwood lane, which is now closed to traffic except cycles and buses.

Hugs
Archeress

 

[summerdays]

If you work at Cribbs - do they have anywhere decent for you to lock up your bike - as the bike racks for the shoppers are terrible. I normally lock my bike to a M&S trolley shelter instead of trying to use those little hoop things.

 

[RiflemanSmith]

Gert big hello.

 

[Archeress]

I don't work at the mall but at one of the supermarkets. They have a locked cycle shed for the staff, so yes there is a decent place to lock the bike up. I do know what you mean about the mall though. Given the city trying to present itself as the UK's first cycling city you'd think the mall would have secure cycle parking available.

Hugs
Archeress

If you work at Cribbs - do they have anywhere decent for you to lock up your bike - as the bike racks for the shoppers are terrible. I normally lock my bike to a M&S trolley shelter instead of trying to use those little hoop things.